Summary of RAV v. City of St. Paul

 St. Paul’s “Bias Motivated Crime” statute makes it a misdemeanor for (disorderly conduct) to place on public or private ppty/ a symbol, object, etc., including but not limited to a burning cross or swastika / knowing or w/ rsbl grounds to know it / arouses others’ anger, alarm, resentment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender.

(1)     Held: (Scalia’s opinion): This is content or viewpoint-based which discriminates on the reasons individuals display the symbol (e.g. movie on WWII in a university class).  Does not refer to all viewing/display of swastikas or burning crosses—evidenced by the “end” of the statute which makes it clear they’re looking @ content.

(2)     VIEWPOINT DISCRIMINATION ≠ OK

(a)     Viewpoint discrimination, i.e. punishing only certain viewpoints, is when only one type of the speech in question is proscribed.

(b)    e.g. libel: Can regulate this speech, but can’t write a law convicting libel only against the govt or against nuns.